Woman's Trust, based at the Lighthouse West London in Lancaster Road, offers counselling and support groups for women who are being abused by their partners. It urgently needs more money to survive.

Kyria Conner, director of the charity, said: "We're very worried about the future and massively concerned about what's going to happen next year.

"Funding is difficult for everybody at the moment, given the recession, but for charities it's even worse. If we can't get more money, we would have to start cutting services."

The charity offers free one-to-one counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and a 24-hour advice service for abused women in both Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster boroughs. It is also the only specialist charity in London to help both victims of domestic violence and those suffering from mental health problems.

Ms Conner explained her work: "Some women try to commit suicide and drug and alcohol abuse is common, because the women try to find ways to cope with their situation.

"People say 'why don't the women just leave their partners?', but it's much harder than it sounds, especially if there are children involved, so our services are absolutely vital for these women."

Woman's Trust has just picked up a £9,980 grant from the National Lottery's Awards for All programme, to be put towards showing healthcare providers examples of women who have turned their lives around through the charity.

Ms Conner added: "It's great news and we're very grateful for the funding, but we still need more."